How can you tell if your baby has dental caries?

I have a 14-month-old son, and his teeth are in good shape. I know this because we just came back from his dentist. However, when I was in the waiting room, I heard the dentist talking to another mother and telling her that her baby had dental caries. My understanding of carries is limited, but I believe it is terrible tooth decay. The mother said she saw no signs of her baby’s teeth having caries.

Are there signs? Or can your child be okay one day and have dental carries the next? I did not want to ask my dentist at the time since I did not want him to know I heard him talking to the other lady.

Reply: Check for the visible signs: White spots or spots on the tooth. A white spot may signify that acids are breaking down the enamel on the tooth. Even if you keep the area clean of plaque by using fluoride toothpaste, your enamel can still continue to break down.

From there, it will start to show as a dark spot on the tooth where if left treated can develop into a cavity.

If left untreated, the cavity will deepen until it eventually reaches the pulp and infects the health of the nerve and blood vessels. Once that happens, you may start to have a toothache. Some more signs can be visible pits, holes, and teeth discoloration.

From this, you can see the stages in which it will progress. Spot it soon enough, and your baby will need minimal dental treatment. It goes without saying the longer you wait, the worse it gets, which will cause your baby to need more extensive dental work.